Feed-pressure regulator.



G. S. MELCHER.

FEED PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2. 1914.

1,155,076. Patentd Sept. 28, 1915.

WITNESSES:

INvENTnv:

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ononen s. MELCHER, or SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 7T0 onannns w.

MQCONNEL; OF BOSTON; IVIASSACHUSETTS,,ELDON MACLEOD, OF WESTWO OD, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FANNIE B. LOOK, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

TRUSTEES, DOING COMPANY.

Licence.

Z '0 all whom it may concern.

"Be it; known that I, Grouse S. MnLorrna, a citizen of theUnited State's, residing at Sharon, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusettsjhave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feed-Pressure Regulators, of which the following s a SPBOlfiCit:

companying drawings.

tion, reference.beingha'd therein tothe ac- My invention has for its object the production of a new and improved excess pressure regulator Which is particularlyide signed to maintain a predetermined excess j of pressure in the boiler feedline above that in the boiler regardless of the variations in the boiler pressure. My device belongs to the class of pressure regulators WlllClT are controlled by a? ,diaphragm having the feed line pressure on-oneside and the boiler pres sure on the otherside. Heretofore so far as known to me practically all devices of this type are what inaybe termed, direct operated devicespthatiis,the main valve is positively connectedto the diaplir agm. In such devices therefore the amount of movement of the main valve is dependententirely upon the amount of movement of the diaphragm.

This construction practically eliminates the use of a metal diaphragm and necessitates the use of a diaphragm of rubber or other equally flexible material in order to obtain the amount ot' m ovement necessary for the valve. 7 The rubber diaphragm will not stand any great amount 'of heat andftherefore is necessarily located at some distancefrom the main valve through which the hot steam passes and arranged to operate in somecooling fluid such as ivater; or the like. I have found, however, that m many instances rub ber diaphragms, even When' properly pro-' tected, Will notgive satisfactory results for although they "possess relativelygreat fleX1= bility there is still not suflicient movement to be adequate under many circumstances.

Where the initial pressure and the consump tion of steam required are substantially con stant a direct operated valve is substantially satisfactory but Where the initial pressure varies which causes a correspondlng varia-- tion "in the load on the pressure pumpth'e direct operated valve 'Wlll not; have suflicient movement to take care of the steam necessary to operate the pump to prevent Specification of Letters Patent.

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the pressures on both sides of, the diaphragm, thus resulting in more or less fluctuation, the elimination-of Which isomer the main objects for Whiclrthese valves are designed. g i

My object is to construct an excess feed pressureregulator inxwhich an auxiliary] valve is employed to control the main valve. Thisallo-ivs theuseota metal diaphragmivhio h isnot'afiec'ted by heat and gives the V Patented Sept. 28, 1915. I Application filed December 2, 1914. Serial No. 875,180.

BUsINEssUNnER THE NAME. on THE MASON REGULATOR main valve the opening desired. For this reason and for the reason that the balanced pressures a re not affected owing to the fact that a very small auxiliary valve may be employed the auxiliary: operated device re duces the fluctuation of the feed pressure to a inini'muln. Heretoforesofliar as kno vvnto me, there has never been an auXiliaryoper ated feed pressure regulator having a single diaphragm.

I am" aware that a pair of diaphragms having a Washerinterposed betweenthem have been employed. Such' devices have not been found satlsfactory for they cannot be regulated Without changingthe Washer-be tween the diaphragms which makes it essential to take. apart the device. The interpo sition of a Washer between two diaphragms results in an exposed area on the inner faces of each of the diaphragms surrounding the washer'.' The out-erpo-rtion of each of-the diaphragms' is therefore SllbJGOllGCl to a heavy pressure on one side only which strains the diaphragms severely and results in" early breakage. 1

The device'embodied'in my invention is so ar-ranged that a single diaphragm may be employed which is subjected to pressure on both'sides so that there isnoexposed area and at the same timeso constructed that the excess pressure desired may be readily an adjustment on the exterior termined by of the device.

My invention Will be fully understood. a from the following description taken in con-' nection with the accompanying drawings particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown atA andthe novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of an excess feed pressure regulator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the auxiliary valve containing member; Fig. 3 is a view of the cricket em ployed in my'device;

.- Having reierence to the drawings and the main body ofthe valve having the usual inlet and outlet openings B and C adapted to be connected to the steam pipes leading from. the boiler and "to the pump respectively. They are separated by a partition D which divides the valve body into inlet and outlet chambers 11 and 12. .An opening 13 through the partition connecting the chamwith the piston 16 is a dash pot piston 18 which is located in a dash pot 19 and operates toretard the movement of the piston 16. A port 20 c onnects theoutlet chamber 12 with the chamber 17 and thus permits the pressure in the outlet chamber to operate on the upper side of the piston 16. I provide a spring 21 above the valve 14 which causes the valve to follow the movement of the piston 1 6.. The lower end ofthe spring rests in a pocket 22 in the valve and itsupper end surrounds a stud or guide 23 on the lower end of a nut 24: threaded into the valve body. While I have described in detail the form of main valve employed 1 wish it to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to this exact form of construction. 7

The valve body A is provided on its upper side ,with an auxiliary valve containing member E which in turn carries a spring case E; The valve bodv-A is recessed as shown at 25 which corresponds to a recess 26 in the member E. "A metal diaphragm 27 of usual form'is contained between the edges of the member E and valve body and divides the space formedby the combined recesses-into the chambers 28 and 29. Bolts 30 secure the members E and F and the interposed diaphragm flrmly in place.

The member E .which is most clearly shown in Fig. 2 is so constructed-that it completely inclosesthe auxiliary valve 31 which controls the main valve in a manner herein- 7 after to be described. It 18 providedwith a recess 32 which opens into the upper wall of the chamber28 and with an integral tubular extension The opening 34 in the extension 33 extends downwardly to the up per surface of the recess 32. A button 35 having a portion 36 making a sliding flt with the lower part of the recess 32 in the member E rests on the diaphragm 27 The upper part of this recess 32 forms a valve chamber in which .the valve 31 is located which has a seat in the flaring end 37 of the opening 34:. A stem'38 with which the valve is provided passes through a guide 39 and carries on its upper end a head or plunger a0. Aspring 41 which surrounds the stem between the head 10 and guide 39 tends to seat the valve 31. The lower end ofthe stem 38 is also. provided with an enlarged cylindrical portion 42 slidably fixed within the opening3 to aid in guiding the valve and securing the proper seating of the same. A stem 43 is secured to the lower end "of the valve 31 and is provided with a T -head 44:

which loosely fits within a chamber 15 in the portion 36 of the button 35'. The chamber 45 is slightly deeper thanthe head l as shown. This construction permits the spring to close the valve31 when thehutton 35 is moved upwardly by the diaphragm 27 the T-head 41 operating to open the valve when the diaphragm and button are moved downwardly. I regard this construction as important for it enables the upward movement of the diaphragm to be limited after the auxiliary valve is closed. This removes the strain from the valve seat and the tendency to cramp it as would result if the button was rigidly connected with the valve, and the seating of the valve was the limit for the upward movementof the diaphragm.

The required movement to close the valve 31 is effected by the button acted upon by the pressure beneath the diaphragm 27 in a ,:manner hereinafter. to be described. In order to open the valve I provide a cricket which is. operated by an excess pressure spring 46 in the chamber 4&7 in the member E This spring cooperates with pressure above the diaphragmto withstand pressure beneath the diaphragm in manner to be set forth. The cricket 4:8 as shown in Fig. 3 consists of a flange 49 mounted on legs 50 the flange being provided with a collar or barrel portion 51.; The legs are preferably three .innumber and are secured to the flange in tri-cornered fashion. They are adapted to be received in holes correspondingly positioned which extend vertically through the member E as shown in Fig; 1, the legs being of such length that they rest upon the but ton 35 and retain the flange 49 of the cricket "slightly above the upper surface of the member E. It will be seen that the cricket thus spans the auxiliary valve 31 and transmits the pressure of the springAG to the button 35. Thiscricket construction is most 7 valve, where it ,niay be readily adjusted,

upper end on the screw 52 is provided for the reception of a suitable key, a locking nut 56 being also employed.

I find that under certain circumstances it is desirable to limit the openingand closing ofthe main valve 14:. I therefore provide for this purpose a novel adjusting device which is so arranged that the maximum and minimum valve opening may be readily controlled. For thispurpose Iprovide the dash pot piston 18 with a downwardly extending rod 57 which passes through the end'of the dash pot and makes "a relatively tight sliding fit therewith; A bracket 58is provided on the end of the dash pot througha hole mit the valve to shut quickly and causeit in whichtherod projects, as shown. The lower endofthe rod is threaded and the hole referred to is o fsuificient size to permit the threaded end of the rod to :befreely movable relatively to the bracket. 'A pair of nuts 59 60 located on the rod, 'one on each side of the-bracketpa'ct as stops'to'limit Sthe movement of the rod and consequently that of the piston and valve 14.1 Set screws 61 are provided which operate to retain the nuts intheposition desired. In order to prevent pressure in the' 'dash potcylinder which leaks past the rod from escaping I provide a removable cup-shaped cap 62 which may be readily detached in order to get at the adjusting mechanism.

The auxiliary valve construction herein above described is particularly adapted to enable the use of a dash pot piston in combination with themain valveoperating piss ton which'acts. as a retarding and steadyin force on the action of the main valve an 50 thus preventsit from closing or opening too quickly. The "retarding eflectis particularly desirable while the valve is being opened for it prevents a too rapidintroduction of steam to thepump. Inorder to perto open slowly, I providea check valve in a port 63 running through thedash pot piston. The lower end of the port is enlarged as shown and threaded to receive corresponds ingly threaded tubular member 64; having a beveled upper end which forms a seat for the valve 65. The valve 65 has a stem 66 which passes through the tubular member 64, thestem being secured in place by a cross-pin 67 which passes through an elongated slot 68 in'the valve stem thereby givin'g the valve sufficient movement to be cracked off its seat. I

i v The diaphragm 27 is acted upon by the feed line pressure which is admitted to the chamber 29 through a port 69 and by the boiler pressure admitted to the upper chamber 28 by: the ports 70 and 71. The boiler pressureisalso admitted by way of ports 70 and 72 tothe chamber formed by the recess 32 so that when the auxiliary valve 31 opens thdpressure is allowed to pass by way of the ports 73 and 'M beneath the piston16.

The excess pressure spring e fi cooperates with the boiler pressure and presses'downwardly on the diaphragm 27 by means of the cricket construction described with a pressure determined by the adjusting screw 52. When the feed linepressure below the diaphragm equals the boiler pressure and j the spring pressure above the diaphragm, the diaphragm will be held in its normalor horizontal position inasmuch as the pressures'arebalance'd; If, however, the feed line pressure becomes less than the boiler pressure and spring pressure the diaphragm will be depressed which will open thevalve 31 allowing steam to pass from the port 72 around the valve 31 and thence beneath the piston 16 byway of the ports 73 and 74.

This will inturn raise the valve l lpermit ting steam tofpass to the pump. The opening of the main valve is retarded by the dash pot piston which makes ajslow leaking fit with the dash pot cylinder. The

steam thus introduced to the pump increases the feed line pressure and raises the diaphragm 27 permitting the auxiliary valve to be closed by the light spring 41 and the pressure beneath its head which prevents further passage of steam tothe piston 16. Under these circumstances the pressure beneath thepiston 16 will leak past it to the upper side and the pressure beneath the dash pot piston is permitted to pass from under it by way of thecheck valve: The pressure below the pistons being thus relieved they will be fo'rced'downwardly by the pressure in the low pressure chamber 12-whichis transmitted tofthe upper-side ofthepiston -1 6"by way of the. port 20 allowing the main valve 14: to close. 7 i i I ""Iregard my inventionas important for mydeviceis capable of use underpractically any and all conditions. allows the use of a single metaldia'phragm in combinationfwith an auxiliary operated The construction i main valve and provides for a ready adjust ment of the excess pressure. An adequate valve opening is obtained which supplies the necessary volumewhere large valves are employed or where the initial pressure varies thus preventing the fluctuation of the pressurein the feed line which would otherwise result. The device istherefore adapted to maintain a predetermined non-fluctuating excess pressure in the boiler feed line above the steam pressure in the boiler regardless of variations in the pressure or the latter, or of ;prising abody having a-singleflexible diaphragm which hasan exposedpressure area on each side thereof, the-exposed area of one side being subjected throughout to feed line pressure and -the exposed'area of the other side being subjected throughout to initial pressure, an auxiliary valve controlled by the movement of said flexible diaphragm, a main valve controlled by said auxiliary valve, and mechanism cooperating with the initialpressure on said diaphragm for exerting an additional pressure thereon.

2} An excess feed pressure regulator comprising abody having a single flexible diaphragm which has an exposed pressure area on each side thereof, the exposed areao'f one side being subjected'throughout to feed line pressure and the exposedarea of the other side being subjected throughout to initial pressure, an auxiliary valve controlled by the movement of said flexible diaphragm, a main.valve controlled .by said auxiliary valve, mechanism cooperating with the initial pressure on said diaphragmfor-exerting anadd-itional pressure thereon, and means 'for regulating the amount'of pressure exerted by said additional pressure mechanism. Y 1 I 1 V v An excess feed pressure regulator .comprising a body having a single flexibl diaphragm therein, said diaphragm having an exposed area on one side subjected to feed line pressure and arr exposed area on the other side subjected .to initial pressure, an auxiliary valve operated in one direction-by the feed pressure on said diaphragm, a spring cooperating with the initial pressure on the other side of said diaphragm tov operate said valvejin the other direction, a main valve controlled by said auxiliary valve, and means for regulating the pressure EXGItQdqbY said sprin a 4., Anexcess'feedpressure regulator comprising arbody having'a flexible diaphragm therein subjected to feed line pressure on one side-and to initial pressure on the other side, a main valve, an auxiliary valve, said flexible diaphragm beingLon one side of said auxiliary valve, pressure mechanism on the other sideofs'a'id auxiliary valve, and inter mediate mechanism by which pressure is transm'ittted from the pressure mechanism to'the'diaphragm. V V

.-5. An excess reed pressure regulator comprising a body-having a flexible diaphragm subjected to feed line pressure on one side and tofinitial pressure on the other side, a m in :valve, an auxi iary valve, said flexible auxiliary valve. V

diaphragm being on one side of said auxiliary valve, pressure mechanism on the other side of said auxiliary valve, and 1ntermediate mechanism by which pressure is transmitted from the pressure mechanismto the diaphragm, said intermediate mechanism being capable'or moving'relatively to the 6. An'excess feed pressure regulator comprising a body having a flexible diaphragm therein subjected to feed line pressure on one side and to initialpressure on the other side,

a main valve, an auxiliary valve, an intermediate member engaging said diaphragm prising a body having a flexible diaphragm there'innsubjected to. feed line pressure on one side-and to initial pressure on the other side, an auxiliary valve provided with a button resting on one side of said diaphragm, a member spanning said valve and resting on said button, pressure mechanism operating on said valve spanning member,

means for regulating the amount of pressure exertedby-said pressure mechanism and a main valve operated by said auxiliary valve.

8 An excess feed pressure regulator comprising a body having a diaphragm therein subjectedto feed pressure on one-side and to initial pressure on the other side, a'button resting'against one side of said diaphragm, an auxiliary valve connected with said button, a cricket comprising a member having a plurality of legs spanning said valve and resting on said button, a main valve controlled by said auxiliary valve and pressure mechanism operating on said cricket to bring pressure to bear on said button.

1 9; An excess feed pressureregulator comprising a body havinga diaphragm therein subjected to feed pressure on one side and to initial pressure on the other side, a button resting against one side ofsaid diaphragm,

an auxiliary valve connected Wltll said button,.a cricket comprising a member having a plurality of legs spanning said valve and resting, on}s'aid button, mechanism for exerting pressure on said cricket, a main valve controlled bysaid auxiliary valve, and

means for regulating the amount of pressure exerted by said pressure mechanism.

1Q. Anrexcess feed pressure regulator comprising a bodyvhaving a diaphragm therein subjected to feed line pressure on one side and to initial pressure on the opposite side, an auxiliary valve provided with a button contacting with said diaphragm, a cricket comprising a member havinga plurality of legs spanning said auxiliary valve and rest;

ing on said button, a spring bearing against said cricket, a main valve controlled by said auxiliary valve and mechanism for regulating the amount of pressure exerted by said spring. p p

11. An excess feed pressure regulator com.- prising a body having a diaphragm therein subjectedto feed line pressure on one side and to initial pressure on the opposite side,- -r a cricket having a plurality of legs connected with said diaphragm, an adjustable spring bearing against said cricket, an auxiliary valve within said cricket intermediate said spring and said diaphragm, and a main valve controlled by said auxiliary valve.

12. An excess feed pressure regulator com prising a valve body having a main valve therein, an auxiliary valve containing member secured to said body, an auxiliary valve within said member adapted to control said main valve, a diaphragm having feed line pressure on one side and initial pressure on the other side, a cricket having members loosely mounted in said auxiliary valve containing member operated by said diaphragm,

mechanism for exerting pressure on said cricket, and means for regulating the amount of pressure exerted by said pressure mechanism.

13. An excess feed pressure regulator comprising a valve body having a main valve therein, an auxiliary valve containing memher having an auxiliary valve therein adapted to control said main valve, said valve body and auxiliary valve containing mem ber having oppositely disposed recesses therein forming a chamber, a flexible diaphragm dividingsaid'chamber and having feed pressure on one side and initialpressure on the other side, a button movably mounted in said auxiliary valve containlng member connecting with said auxiliary valve and contacting with said diaphragm, a

nism operating said button and cooperating with the initial pressure on said diaphragm for exerting an additional pressure thereon, and a main valve controlled by said auxiliary valve.

15. An excess feed pressure regulator comprising a main valve and a containing memexerting mechanism exerts ber therefor, an auxiliary valve and a co ntaining member therefor separate from the. i

main valve container but detachably connected therewith, a single flexible diaphragm interposed between said two valve contain ers, means for introducing feed pressure on the main valve side of the diaphragm, means for introducing boiler pressure on the aux iliary valve side of the diaphragm, a presser head engaging with said diaphragm on the auxiliary valve side of same, pressure exerting mechanism and a conta ner therefor dentachably connected with said auxiliary valve container, and means whereby said pressure 5 pressure on the said presser head.

16. An excess feed pressure regulator com-- prising a mainvalve and'a containing member therefor, an auxiliary valve and a containing member therefor separate from the main valve container, but detachably connected therewith, a single flexible diaphragm interposed between said two valve containers, means for introducing feed pressure on the main valve side of the diaphragm, means for introducing boiler pressure on the auxiliary valve side of the diaphragm, a pressure member connected with said auxiliary valve and movable with relation thereto and engaging, with said diaphragm, a spring container detachably connected with said auxiliary valve container and separated thereby from the main valve container, a springin said spring container, a follower engaged by said spring and passing loosely through said auxiliary valve container and acting upon the said pressure member whereby the pressure of said spring is transmitted to the diaphragm.

17. The excess feed pressure regulator,

comprising a body having a iiexible'diaphragm whiclrhas an exposed pressure area on each side thereof, the exposed area on one side being subjected to feed line pres sure and the exposed area on the other side ein sub'ected to initial ressure an aux-' iliary valve controlled by the movement of said flexible diaphragm, amain valve controlled by said'auxiliary valve, said main and said auxiliary valves being on opposite sides of said diaphragm, and mechanism on the same side of the diaphragm with the said auxiliary valve and cooperating with the initial pressure on said diaphragm for exerting an additional pressure thereon,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. MELCHER.

Witnesses ELDON MAGLEOD, CAMERON MAcLEoD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

WashingtomD. C. i I 

